The 24 Best Coffee Shops in Louisville: Local & Ethically Sourced

We once read the phrase something for everyone was kitsch… and as travel fanatics ourselves – we agree. Very rarely is there truly something for everyone in any destination. In the case of Louisville coffee shops, however, our city might be the exception to that rule. Whether you’re interested in mom and pop shops, specialty Ethiopean cold brews, modern cafes where you can pay with cryptocurrency, or just pretty European-inspired coffee houses – these are the best coffee shops in Louisville!!

UPDATED: FEBRUARY 2022

Before diving headfirst into your next caffeine buzz – make sure to check out a few of our other local guides!

• 100 Fun Things To Do in Louisville All Year Round
• Best Salads & Keto Restaurants in Louisville
• Best Tacos in Louisville: Mexican Street Style, California Style & Kentucky Inspired

Ol’ Faithful Louisville Coffee Shops

We all have our favorites – whether it be pizza, wine, or coffee shops. You know the ones that you just go back to because they’re comfortable? In this section, we’ll debate all the best coffee shops in Louisville that have been around forever and boast a pretty massive fan base.

Heine Brothers’ Coffee

Although Heine Brothers’ Coffee started in Louisville, they’ve exploded into a multi-state conglomerate. What we love most about them is that each store is different. They take existing buildings (and sometimes buy out other coffee shops in Louisville) and turn them into a mega-efficient fair-trade one-stop-shop for all of your caffeine needs. Interestingly enough – all of their coffee is also certified organic!!

If you’re looking to support local – Heine Brother’s shops have all the cold brews, scones, smoothies, etc that you could ever want! They even have a Heine Brothers’ Coffee inside one of our favorite bookstores Carmichaels.

• Favorite Location: 2309 Frankfort Ave, Louisville, KY 40206 (The patio is gorgeous and this location used to be called VINT!)

Brew & Sip cOFFEE bAR

More than just a coffee shop, the Bradleys pivoted their business from catering to a thriving community staple mid-pandemic. Along with specialty coffees and espressos, Brew & Sip Coffee Bar also offers healthy options for the busy Louisvillian. Freshly squeezed juices, smoothies, breakfast sandwiches, and lunch are all available through their drive-through! And if you need a place to work from home, stop in for a local favorite: an iced Caramella!

• Brew & Sip Coffee Bar (Beuchel-Louisville) : 3802 Shepherdsville Rd, Louisville, KY 40218

Quills Coffee

If you work from home, Quills Coffee will quickly become one of your favorite Louisville coffee shops when you need a change of scenery. We love a good origin story, and the beginnings of Quills are worth telling. Starting out as a barista, Nathan Quillo turned his passion for good coffee into a full-on coffee shop in 2007. Today, there are multiple Quills locations around Louisville in the Highlands, along Frankfort Avenue, and in the East end. So what do we order? While the coffee is good, what we’ve really always loved is their wide selection of specialty teas. There is just nothing quite like the organic aromatic blends at Quills Coffee when you’re not looking for a caffeine buzz!

• Favorite Quills Location (Downtown Louisville): 802 E Main St, Louisville, KY 40206

READ MORE: Love Downtown Louisville? Get our guide to over 100 Louisville Murals across the city!

Stomping Grounds Coffee Co.

Stomping Grounds Coffee Co. has become something of a desert oasis for many off Dixie Highway and it’s easy to see why! With coffee shops aplenty in the East End, Highlands, and Downtown Louisville neighborhoods, the South End of Louisville is sorely lacking go-to local coffeehouses. With the goal to ‘cultivate community one cup at a time’ – Stomping Grounds Coffee Co. is quickly becoming a local favorite. Beyond their incredibly convenient drive-through, they also serve sugar-free options and delicious Kentucky-themed bourbon caramel lattes!

• Stomping Grounds Coffee Co.: 10019 Dixie Hwy, Louisville, KY 40272

Day’s Espresso & Coffee

Open since 1994, Day’s Espresso & Coffee is a staple in the popular Highlands neighborhood of Louisville. Although yes they serve deliciously aromatic brews like raspberry white mochas and oat milk lattes – what we really love is their proximity to everything good in the Highlands. If you’re out for a neighborhood stroll, it’s too easy to have breakfast at Highland Morning, grab a coffee, and head over to the Douglas Loop Farmer’s Market. (Weirdly enough, we have a favorite farmer’s market… when does that happen as adults??)

• Days Espresso & Coffee: 1420 Bardstown Rd, Louisville, KY 40204

Please & Thank You

We’re gonna let you in on a little local secret: it’s true that Please & Thank You serves great coffee… but what the locals really come for are the chocolate chip cookies and lavender lemonade. There are three locations across the city and each one has a slightly different flair. Shelbs loves the downtown location during the workweek, and the East End location during the weekends. (They have a super cozy book nook perfect for binge reading that new book for a few hours!)

• Please & Thank You (MARK- NULU Location): 800 E Market St, Louisville, KY 40206pect, KY 40059

Sister Bean’s Coffee House

In the up-and-coming neighborhood of Iriquois and right across the street from the most stunning views of Louisville from a city park, lays Sister Bean’s Coffee House. Known for their family-oriented budget-friendly-style cafe, Sister Bean’s coffee shop is a Louisville staple for the community around Iroquois Park. There’s space for kids to play, public computers for community access, and a convenient drive-through – but what’s really important is the atmosphere. The menu isn’t fancy, but as one Yelp reviewer described Sister Bean’s, it’s ‘like sitting in a friend’s living room’. Truly a place for the average Joe to enjoy a homey cup of Jo.

• Sister Bean’s: 5225 New Cut Rd, Louisville, KY 40214

La Grange Coffee Roasters

There’s so much to love about La Grange Coffee Roasters we don’t know where to begin. At home in the pretty La Grange historic downtown, this is one of our personal favorite Louisville coffee shops. When you walk up to the unassuming exterior, you don’t expect to be greeted with a New England-style ambiance of copper ceiling tiles and twinkly lights beckoning you to try everything. And when we say everything – we really do mean everything. From specialty Cuban espressos to freshly baked cheddar bacon scones, La Grange Coffee Roasters is that picture-perfect small-town coffee shop you can’t miss!

• La Grange Coffee Roasters: 110 E Main St, La Grange, KY 40031

READ MORE: Want to explore more of Kentucky? Get our guide to 12 Perfect Day Trips from Louisville – one for each month of the year!

European Style Coffee Cafes in Louisville

Louisville’s coffee scene is always changing and with that the introduction of a few great European-style cafes perfect for sipping your favorite dark roast. When we’ve traveled to Europe, it’s always been with the presence of mind that we’re not getting coffee to go. It’s basically rude to chug it for a burst of caffeine – go figure.

Not even obsessed coffee drinkers ourselves, sometimes you just need a little pep in your step and these coffee shops provide that perfect across-the-seas ambiance.

Blackbeard Espresso

Not a huge cafe by any means, we’ve included Blackbeard Espresso under the moniker of Europeans style coffee shops in Louisville for good reason. Downtown Louisville is a continuous hubbub of activity. It’s almost never slow unless it’s a Sunday? With that in mind, the cozy brick walls and quiet interior of Blackbeard Espresso are a perfect escape from the city. Located near Museum Row downtown, grab a delectably spicy chai latte from their limited menu and walk around downtown! (P.S. Limited menu? Also very European. They make what they make and do it well.)

• Blackbeard Espresso: 718 W Main St, Louisville, KY 40202

Fante’s Coffeehouse and Private Label Coffee Roasters

Simply Fante’s to Louisville locals, we adore this charming coffee shop for so many reasons. First and foremost is the building. Inside a remodeled old home Fante’s Coffeehouse has plenty of space to sit by the fire, a full study room for students or the WFH crowd, and a gorgeous patio. The place is huge. Not to mention they roast their beans in-house, and we can tell you from experience the place smells divine!! Like something out of the French countryside, head to Fantes for their seasonally rotating drinks and fluffy scones!

• Fante’s Coffeehouse and Private Label Coffee Roasters: 2501 Grinstead Dr, Louisville, KY 40206

MozzaPi

This is our favorite coffee shop in East End Louisville. Yes, they have coffee and scrumptious pancakes, but what we really love most is the atmosphere. Built as a passion project, MozzaPi is like something out of Alice and Wonderland or Beauty and the Beast? Part coffee shop and part carpenters love child- visit and spy the giant clock, carved lightbulbs, and chairs adorning the main cafe area. P.S. If you see us walking with a giant german shepherd up to the outdoor walk-up counter – don’t be alarmed. He’s a sweetie!!

• MozzaPi: 12102 La Grange Rd, Louisville, KY 40223

(This location is temporarily closed but we expect it to open back up soon! After all, they do serve one of the best pizzas in Louisville!)

READ MORE: Want to explore more of Kentucky? Get our guide to all the fun things to do in Lexington, Kentucky!!

Safai Coffee Shop

Easily one of the best coffee shops in Louisville, Safai has made an art of supporting local since 1998. Proudly serving Rainforest Alliance certified coffees, you’ll feel good sipping your delicious Snow Melt (a heavenly combination of vanilla spice and white mocha). With the ever-rising popularity of coffee shops, we love seeing more and more small coffeehouses like Safai Coffee Shop investing in our communities across the globe. P.S. While you’re sipping, be sure to shop the selection of wares from Louisville artisans!

• Safai Coffee Shop: 1707 Bardstown Rd, Louisville, KY 40205

Modern Coffeehouses In Louisville

Is the modern aesthetic more your speed? Whether you’re at home in industrial spaces or crypto cafes, Louisville has a coffee shop for that. There are even vintage-themed coffee shops and traditional Ethiopian ceremonial coffee shops.. that’s how much we love our coffee here in the ‘Ville. If you haven’t found your home yet, don’t despair. There are quite literally thirteen more Louisville coffee shops to explore.

Sunergos Coffee

With four locations around the city, it’s hard to pick a favorite! We’ve ultimately decided on the Highlands location closest to Bellarmine University’s campus. Long a favorite for thousands of students walking this small Louisville borough, we kept hearing how good the white mochas were? A few years ago we took a walk there and had an incredible experience. Fast baristas, an incredible white mocha, and a perfect breeze rolling through the cafe’s wide open garage bays. Sunergos Coffee is incredible in the spring, but we just can’t get enough all year long!

• Favorite Sunergos Location: 1647 Norris Pl, Louisville, KY 40205

READ MORE: Need more Kentucky inspiration? Get our guide to 12 awesome summer hikes in Kentucky!

Highbrew Coffee Co

Marked by a bright blue velvet couch (perfect for Instagram photos if we do say so ourselves…), Highbrew Coffee Co is quickly becoming a favorite Louisville coffee shop in the Highview neighborhood. As coffee becomes more and more popular and the world opens back up we’re all looking for that next coffee date or a place to read that binge-worthy novel. Highbrew Coffee not only has a pretty interior, but they also serve some of the most imaginative drinks around including a Strawberry Shortcake latte and refreshing Italian ices.

• Highbrew Coffee Co.: 7407 Fegenbush Ln, Louisville, KY 40228

North Lime Coffee & Donuts

As one of the only donut shops in town with vegan donuts, many locals love North Lime! What you may not know is they have incredible coffees to rival their pastry fame. Giant caramel macchiatos and prettily layered Dolce Veloce traditional coffees are available throughout the week in addition to rotating weekly donut specials! To make sure you don’t miss out on some of the best donuts in town, sign up for North Lime’s text updates with the weekly menu!

• North Lime Coffee & Donuts: 1228 S 7th St, Louisville, KY 40203

Ntaba Coffee Haus

An interesting addition to the Louisville coffee shop scene has been Ntaba Coffee Haus. Opening in 2018, Ntaba aims to bring African and German heritage to light in serving coffees from fair trade, organic Ethiopian coffee farms. Along with aromatic brews that made you want to sink low into a comfy chair, Ntaba also serves unique regional dishes. Two of our favorites are the sausage roll with chutney and the spicy chicken chorizo pie!

• Ntaba Coffee Haus: 2407 Brownsboro Rd Suite 102, Louisville, KY 40206

Full Stop Station

Truly one of the best coffee shops in Louisville is the little-known Full Stop Station in Old Louisville. The peaceful patio with cheerful yellow umbrellas is a place we’ve taken a lunch break many times as the sounds of St. Therese of Lisieux Church’s bells softly rush by on a breeze. Full Stop serves gourmet lunch-sized charcuterie boards, fresh salads, and Shelb’s favorite caffeinated beverage in Louisville: the Lavendar Mocha Latte.

• Full Stop Station: 1132 E St Catherine St, Louisville, KY 40204

Pregame Coffee

This veteran-owned coffee shop in the heart of Louisville’s Nulu neighborhood is one of the first of its kind in Louisville. More than a coffee shop, Pregame Coffee is ‘equal parts speakeasy, coffee shop, and sports bar’, while also offering high-quality food. Customer favorites include the Cinnamon Toast Latte and specialty cold brew flights! (Never have we ever seen flights at a coffee shop but we’re here for it!)

• Pregame Coffee: 723 E Main St, Louisville, KY 40202

Endless Summer Paddle & Coffee

What’s better than coffee? Getting a coffee and learning to stand up paddleboard! Also offering fresh juices and smoothies, Endless Summer Paddle & Coffee shop serves up healthy lifestyle habits as a whole!! The cafe is the meeting point for stand-up paddleboard classes making it one of the most unique and best coffee shops in Louisville!

• Endless Summer Paddle & Coffee: 1301 Frankfort Ave, Louisville, KY 40206

Bean Roastery and Cafe

Inside this Instagram-friendly cafe with vintage black and white tile floors, visitors will find two things: art and really good coffee. Described as ‘not fancy’ and ‘not interested in fads’, owner Billy Seckman is only interested in roasting the best beans for a genuinely fine cup of coffee. At home in the trendy Louisville neighborhood of Germantown, stop by Bean Roastery and Cafe for a cup of jo with hints of blueberry and try the quiche of the day!

• Bean Roastery and Cafe: 1138 Goss Ave, Louisville, KY 40217

Dogebeans Coffee

First and foremost, the most interesting thing about Dogebeans Coffee is that it’s a one-of-a-kind for Louisville: a crypto cafe. We had no idea what this meant and were slightly intimidated at first, but really it just means that customers have the opportunity to pay with cryptocurrency or USD. The cafe’s mascot is Doji – a dog who wants to be an astronaut and the out-of-this-world coffee creations truly live up to the theme. Blood orange nitro NFTeas and even Louisville-inspired creations like the Louisville Fog are much loved by customers!! (The Louisville Fog is a Nitro brewed earl grey tea with vanilla and oat milk?!) P.S. Dogebeans was formerly called 78 Coffee if you’re looking for the old shop.

• Dogebeans Coffee: 907 E Liberty St, Louisville, KY 40204

Clever Moose

Inside a co-op building with an expansive working space and daycare, it was almost a necessity to include a coffee shop. Clever Moose Cafe delivers a much-needed caffeine fix to hard-working Louisvillians alongside colorful decor and a delightfully unique menu. Delicious Pork Banh Mi buns along with soothing Earl Grey honey lavender lattes?! Come on folks, it’s definitely time for a longer lunch break!

• Clever Moose Cafe: 204 S Hancock St, Louisville, KY 40202

Red Hot Roasters

A place where you can get Peeps in your coffee?! Count us and any other millennial in because Peeps were an amazing part of our childhood! Right next to the gorgeous Cavehill Cemetery (a lot less creepy than it sounds), Red Hot Roasters’ bright teal building fits right in with the funky culture of the Highlands neighborhood. Another local tip: it’s one of the only places where you can get a great breakfast burrito in town ranking it high on our list of best coffee shops in Louisville!

• Red Hot Roasters: 1399 Lexington Rd, Louisville, KY 40206

Abol Cafe

Last but certainly not least for locally owned Louisville coffee shops – a catering company, traditional Ethiopian coffee house, and the only place to experience a traditional coffee ceremony in Louisville? Abol Cafe brings a truly unique event to Louisville’s coffee aficionados to help educate people on the importance of coffee in communities impacted by coffee bean farming. Micro roasted batches are the base for everything including the house special: the Dalgona Coffee, a whipped delightfully tasty treat!

• Abol Cafe: 102 1/2 Cannons Ln, Louisville, KY 40206

Best Chain Coffee Shops In Louisville

Now – if you’re not a coffee snob and you don’t care about where you get that next caffeine buzz, there are a few good chain coffee shops in Louisville worth checking out.

Right now, our favorite chain is Scooters Coffee. It’s right near our house, it’s drive-through only and no one corrects a large to a venti. Know what we mean?

• Scooters Coffee Middletown Location: 11506 Shelbyville Rd, Louisville, KY 40243

Further Reading

Looking to explore a little more of the South? We have tons of guides for destinations all across the Southern USA.

Start with taking a road trip through West Virginia! In the northernmost corner, West Virginia University is at home in the lively mountain town of Morgantown, West Virginia. Tons of budget-friendly eats and a vibrant boho artists community make for a fun weekend getaway.

if you’re interested in heading further North, get our guide to Cleveland the Machine Gun Kelly way – including a stop at his new coffee shop 27 Club Coffee!

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How many coffeehouses is one city allowed to have? The limit does not exist. (Please get the reference… or we know we’re just getting old now?)

Anywho! Are any of your Louisville friends fellow caffeine addicts? Share this post and plan a coffee crawl while you run your errands. You know you’ll love it!

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Until next time friends,

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